Sacha Baron Cohen's Dictator banned from BBC shows?

The Dictator's General Aladeen has reportedly been banned from appearing on BBC television and radio shows.

The Graham Norton Show, The One Show, Newsnight and The Andrew Marr Show were all apparently in talks about interviewing Sacha Baron Cohen in the guise of his latest screen creation, but have all pulled out.

Shows on Radio 4 and Radio 1 have followed suit, with a source close to Cohen telling The Sun: "Everyone came back and said they were declining to have him in character on air.

"Sacha suspects it's a case of a sense of humour bypass."

The Borat actor commented on the matter in the character of General Aladeen, saying: "While I am a huge admirer of state-sponsored censorship, the BBC banning me from their meagre channels is an outrage.

"Why are they victimising little old me?"

A BBC spokesman responded on the issue: "Our chatshows thrive on the spontaneous banter between guests and the presenter, something you don't get when people come on as characters. We'd love to have Sacha on as himself."